Curiosmos
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists
No Result
View All Result
Like us on Facebook
Curiosmos
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists
No Result
View All Result
Curiosmos
No Result
View All Result

10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Ancient Paracas Culture

Vladislav TchakarovbyVladislav Tchakarov
October 2, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024
in Curious Lists
A fine example of the craftsmanship of the ancient Paracas culture - one of the many embroidered textiles found in the Paracas Necropolis.

A fine example of the craftsmanship of the ancient Paracas culture - one of the many embroidered textiles found in the Paracas Necropolis.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The culture of Paracas was one of the first complex societies known in South America. Its name comes from the Quechua word para-ako, which means “falling sand like rain”. In the 1920s, archaeologists discovered the great Paracas necropolis on the Pacific coast of the south-central Andes which became the greatest source of information about this ancient civilization. 

1. The Paracas Culture existed from around the 10th century BC

Experts disagree on the exact period during which the Paracas culture thrived. Some say that their existence spanned throughout a much longer period but the generally accepted theory is that they flourished between 900 and 100 BC.

2. This civilization is mostly known for the mysterious shape of their skulls

Several skulls of members of the Paracas Culture as seen in museum.
Several skulls of members of the Paracas Culture as seen in museums.

You have, undoubtedly, seen or heard about the unusual shape of the skulls of members of this civilization found in the Paracas Necropolis. Although similar elongated skulls have been found in different regions around the world, none share the same characteristics as the ones found in the necropolis.

3. People from the Paracas Culture had a 25% larger brain than a normal human being

As I mentioned above, a comparison with similar skulls found in Egypt, Mexico, Malta, Syria, and many other places is impossible. While in these cultures the size of the skull did not change the quality of the brain, in Paracas skulls, the brain was 25% larger than the average human brain and 60% heavier.

Related Posts

Most sounds in space scientists receive or catch come as radio waves. Credit: Shutterstock

10 Eerie Sounds Recorded in Space

December 14, 2020 - Updated on September 22, 2022
Title page of a 1619 translation of Lucian's works, a speculative portrayal of Lucian of Samosata from the 17th century, and a 1984 illustration of a space battle sceen from one of his works. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

10 Things You Should Know About Lucian of Samosata, an Ancient Writer and Father of Science Fiction

May 7, 2021 - Updated on January 21, 2024

This led scientists to conclude that the shape of the head of the ancient people of the Paracas culture is not the result of deliberate bone deformation as we see in other regions of the Earth, where it is a tradition to lengthen the skull with tight bandages.

4. Experts believe that the Paracas Culture was not part of our Homo Sapiens species

In 2014, Juan Navarro, owner, and director of the Paracas History Museum allowed hair, teeth, bones, and skin to be sampled from 5 skulls. For the purity and reliability of the analysis, the experts in the laboratory are not told exactly what material is given to them for examination.

According to the expert’s conclusion, “mitochondrial DNA with mutations not previously found in humans or primates” was found in the samples. In other words, the owners of the elongated skulls are not Homo Sapiens and they definitely do not come from monkeys.

Scientists also rule out options such as “accidental mutation” and believe that 3,000 years ago, there was a large tribe of human-like creatures in southern Peru that had no biological relationship to humans.

5. Scholars believe that the additional size of the brain meant additional capabilities and power

Have you ever asked yourself what powers we would possess if we used the entire capacity of our brains? If not, scientists have definitely given it a serious thought and in the case of the Paracas culture, they believe that the members of this civilization truly had special abilities.

6. Paracas Textile Art

A magnificent embroidered mantle found in the Paracas Necropolis.
A magnificently embroidered mantle found in the Paracas Necropolis. Source: MFA

Archaeologists discovered incredible textiles made by the Paracas culture and I have to say – they are exquisite. Their craftsmanship was extraordinary and evident in the tenths of meters of textiles in museums today.

Almost all textile pieces are entirely covered in embroidery and experts have divided their art into two styles – block color and linear. Most examples we have today also include illustrations of people and all kinds of animals as embroidery.

The linear style characterizes by consistent embroidery that runs across their fabric in lines using four main colors while the block color style characterizes by well-emphasized illustrating motifs including many images.

7. Paracas Ceramics

Ceramic vessel made by the Paracas Culture. Source: Fowler Museum
A ceramic vessel made by the Paracas Culture. Source: Fowler Museum

Ceramics are another cultural aspect that the Paracas advanced in. Most ceramics by the Paracas culture are black and in most cases, egg-shaped. Scholars believe that they drew their influence from another Andean civilization – the Chavin culture. Other types of ceramics were also found in the necropolis but experts believe that they were exported due to their difference from the usual Paracas style.

8. The Paracas Culture crafted numerous other objects

Obsidian knife made by the Paracas Culture. Source: Museo Chileno De Arte Precolombino
Obsidian knife made by the Paracas Culture. Source: Museo Chileno De Arte Precolombino

Apart from ceramics and textiles, the Paracas culture processed all kinds of other materials and made all kinds of everyday objects. I can give several examples – obsidian knives, bottles, and dishes made of pumpkin shells, necklaces and other jewelry with gold ornaments, and much more.

9. The Paracas must have had grand burial rituals, evident from the Paracas Necropolis

More than 300 hundred graves were discovered in the Paracas Necropolis, apparently buried with honors and rituals. Most skeletons were dressed in layers of clothing while several, perhaps noble or rich people, were buried with finely embroidered textiles and jewelry.

10. It is unclear what brought the end of the Paracas Culture

Why and how the Paracas Culture disappeared will likely never be discovered. Some theories suggest that the neighboring Topara Culture invaded and obliterated them. Others give the same suggestion but with another civilization that thrived later on and is considered a descendant of the Paracas – the Nazca culture. One thing is for certain – the elongated skulls disappeared with the Paracas culture which means that this civilization simply vanished.


Join the discussion and participate in awesome giveaways in our mobile Telegram group. Join Curiosmos on Telegram Today. t.me/Curiosmos

Share157Tweet98Share27ShareSend
Vladislav Tchakarov

Vladislav Tchakarov

Hello, my name is Vladislav and I am glad to have you here on Curiosmos. As a history student, I have a strong passion for history and science, and the opportunity to research and write in this field on a daily basis is a dream come true.

Related Posts

An image of active Dunes in Wirtz Crater. This image was taken by the HiRISE instrument on board on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona.
Curious Lists

We Landed On Mars In 1976, Here Are The 10 Incredible Surface Images

November 30, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024
Space-themed movies are often the most successful in the box office but few can be called a masterpiece. Here are 10 we recommend. Credit: Shutterstock
Curious Lists

10 Space-Themed Movies All Astronomy Lovers Should See

January 2, 2021 - Updated on February 15, 2025
Sweden Photo by Vicente Viana Martínez from Pexels
Curious Lists

Top 10 Things You Should Definitely do When Visiting Sweden

September 30, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024
An artistic illustration of a Dark Web user. Depositphotos.
Curious Lists

10 Disturbing Secrets of the Dark Web – The Unseen Side of the Internet

May 14, 2022 - Updated on January 21, 2024
The Natufian culture. This image shows part of their settlement.
Curious Lists

Top 10 Fascinating Aspects of the Natufian Culture

June 10, 2023 - Updated on January 20, 2024
An old aerial photograph of the Hagar Qim Megalithic complex.
Curious Lists

10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Megalithic Temples of Malta

October 7, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Fair Use Notice
  • DMCA / Removal
  • Impressum
  • Contact
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Ownership and Funding Information
  • Impressum
CURIOSMOS.COM

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists